COTE d’Ivoire’s main opposition party is set to nominate Tidjane Thiam, the internationally renowned businessman and former minister, as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election expected in October.
According to a report by AFP, the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI) will formally back Thiam, 62, during a party convention on Wednesday, marking a pivotal moment for the centre-right movement, which has been out of power for 25 years.
Opposition rallies around outsider-turned-frontrunner
Thiam, currently abroad, is the sole contender in the PDCI’s internal race. The former Credit Suisse and Aviva executive has returned to the national spotlight after decades in international finance.
‘This convention is about mobilising,’ said senior PDCI lawmaker Simon Doho, adding that a formal confirmation would give Thiam greater legitimacy ahead of the fiercely competitive vote.
Despite his absence from domestic politics for over two decades, the party believes Thiam’s global experience and technocratic credentials could reinvigorate their fortunes.
Nationality row dogs Thiam’s candidacy
Thiam’s candidacy has not been without controversy. Critics claim his acquired French nationality renders him ineligible to stand. Thiam responded in March, saying he had renounced French citizenship to qualify for the presidency. However, detractors argue that by becoming French in 1987, he automatically lost Ivorian citizenship, as per the law.
The PDCI has dismissed these claims, defending his eligibility. Still, the nationality row reflects the rising political stakes six months ahead of the poll.
Political field clouded by bans and uncertainty
The electoral landscape is fraught with legal and political tensions. Former president Laurent Gbagbo, his ex-ally Charles Ble Goude, and former prime minister Guillaume Soro have all expressed intent to run but face legal ineligibility.
Meanwhile, the ruling RHDP party is expected to nominate President Alassane Ouattara, 83, for a fourth term, despite growing debate over term limits and succession.
Other confirmed candidates include ex-prime minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan and Simone Gbagbo, former first lady and long-time political figure.
Rising tensions cast shadow on October vote
As political events multiply across Abidjan and other towns, concerns over pre-election unrest grow. Political analyst Geoffroy Kouao warned that the campaign atmosphere was already turning volatile.
‘The October 25 election has got off to a bad start,’ Kouao told AFP, noting that escalating rhetoric and growing uncertainty are fuelling electoral disorder.
While PDCI supporters are energised, Kouao noted that Thiam’s limited domestic visibility remains a challenge: ‘He is not well known to Ivorians. The PDCI will need to intensify its grassroots engagement.’
With the official list of eligible candidates set for release in June, the road to the 2025 election promises to be one of the most contentious in the country’s recent history.
